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helm

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helm¹

  • /hɛlm/ US, UK

Rhymes with -ɛlm

Where it comes from

The noun is derived from Middle English helm, helme (“tiller of a ship”), from Old English helma (“helm, tiller”), from Proto-Germanic *helmô (“handle; helm, tiller”), either from Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- (“to cover”) or from the same source as haulm and helm (“bentgrass, straw”) (see below), Proto-Indo-European *ḱélh₂-m(on)- (“reed, hollow stalk”), one form of which then developed a specialized meaning “handle” in Germanic.

The verb is derived from the noun.

Cognates

* German Holm (“beam”)

* Old Norse hjálm

noun helms

  1. The tiller (or, in a large ship, the wheel) which is used to steer the rudder of a marine vessel; also, the entire steering apparatus of a vessel. Ye this is both helme & stern of al together: & that which they contended right sore to impugn, but loue of the truth, wherwith in this poynte I reckened me wel fēsed, wold not suffer me to apply & yeld to their wil, thinking, quod sanctū erat veritatē preferre amicitiæ, that the truth ought to be p
  2. broadly The use of a helm (sense 1); also, the amount of space through which a helm is turned.
  3. broadly The member of a vessel's crew in charge of steering the vessel; a helmsman or helmswoman.

    Similar: helmsperson

  4. broadly Something used to control or steer; also (obsolete), a handle of a tool or weapon; a haft, a helve. A great axe first she gave, that two ways cut, / In which a fair well-polish'd helm was put, / That from an olive bough receiv'd his frame.
  5. figuratively A position of control or leadership. the helm of the Commonwealth
  6. figuratively One in the position of controlling or directing; a controller, a director, a guide. [Y]ou ſlander / The Helmes o'th State: vvho care for you like Fathers, / VVhen you curſe them, as Enemies.

verb helms · helming · helmed · helm

  1. transitive To control the helm (noun sense 1) of (a marine vessel); to be in charge of steering (a vessel). [A] wild wave in the wild North-sea, / […] overbears the bark, / And him that helms it, […]
  2. figuratively, transitive To direct or lead (a project, etc.); to manage (an organization). Ile ſtriue to be nor great nor ſmale, / To liue nor die, fate helmeth all, / VVhen I can breath no longer, then, / Heauen take all, there put Amen.

helm²

  • /hɛlm/ US, UK

Rhymes with -ɛlm

Where it comes from

From Middle English helm (“helmet; crown of thorns of Jesus; warrior; inn or shop sign”) [and other forms], from Old English helm (“helmet”), from Proto-West Germanic *helm, from Proto-Germanic *helmaz (“protective covering”), probably from Proto-Indo-European *ḱelmos, from the root *ḱel- (“to cover”). Doublet of heaume and related to helmet.

Cognates

* Gothic 𐌷𐌹𐌻𐌼𐍃 (hilms)

* Old Frisian helm (West Frisian helm)

* Old High German helm (Middle High German helm, modern German Helm; Italian elmo; Old French helme, modern French heaume; Spanish yelmo)

* Old Norse hjalmr (Danish hjelm, Norwegian hjelm, Swedish hjälm)

* Old Saxon helm (Low German Helm, Middle Dutch helm, modern Dutch helm)

noun helms

  1. archaic, poetic, transitive A helmet. Their plumed helmes are wrought with beaten golde, / Their ſwords enameld, and about their neckes / Hangs maſſie chaines of golde downe to the waſte, / In euery part exceding braue and rich.
  2. Northern England, broadly, transitive A shelter for cattle or other farm animals; a hemmel, a shed.
  3. broadly, transitive A heavy cloud lying on the brow of a mountain, especially one associated with a storm. Then ancient Skiddaw, stern and proud, / In sullen majesty replying, / Thus spake from out of his helm of cloud […]
  4. broadly, dialectal, transitive The crown or top of something.
  5. broadly, obsolete, transitive The upper part or cap of an alembic or retort. The Dragons teeth, Mercurie ſublimate, / That keepes the vvhiteneſſe, hardneſſe and the biting; / And they are gather’d, into Iaſon’s helme, / (Th’Alembeke) and then ſovv’d in Mars his field, / And, thence, ſublim’d ſo often, till they are fix’d.

helm³

  • /hɛlm/ US, UK

Rhymes with -ɛlm

Where it comes from

From Middle English helmen, helmi (“to provide with a helmet; (figuratively) to cover; to protect”), from Old English helmian (“to cover”), ġehelmian (“to cover with a helmet; to crown”), from (ġe- (prefix with an intensifying effect, or forming nouns or verbs denoting processes or results) +) helm (“helmet”) (see further at etymology 2) + -ian (suffix forming verbs from adjectives and nouns).

verb helms · helming · helmed

  1. archaic, poetic, transitive To cover (a head) with a helmet; to provide (someone) with a helmet; to helmet. Oh Noble Conon, / You taught my tender Hands the Trade of VVar; / And novv again you Helm your hoary Head, / And under double vveight of Age and Arms, / Aſſert your Countries Freedom, and my Crovvn.

    Similar: behelm

helm⁴

  • /hɛlm/ US, UK

Rhymes with -ɛlm

Where it comes from

The noun is possibly:

* a variant of haulm; or

* from its etymon Middle English halm, helm, Early Middle English healm (“straw, stubble; stalk (?); handle of a tool or weapon”) [and other forms], from Old English healm (“stalk of a grass or plant; hay, straw, stubble”) or an unattested variant *helm, from Proto-Germanic *helmaz (see Proto-West Germanic *helm) or *halmaz (“stalk of a grass or plant; hay, straw”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ḱelh₂- (“to prick, stab, stick”).

The verb is either derived from the noun, or is possibly a variant of yelm.

Cognates

Dutch helm (“haulm”); helm, hellem, hellim (“straw”) (dialectal)

Low German helm (“haulm”) (hallem (Heligoland), halm (Holstein))

noun helms

  1. countable, transitive A stalk of corn, or (uncountable) stalks of corn collectively (that is, straw), especially when bundled together or laid out straight to be used for thatching roofs.

    Similar: thatch, yelm

  2. alternative, transitive, uncountable Alternative form of haulm (“the stems of various cultivated plants, left after harvesting the crop, which are used as animal food or litter, or for thatching”). The sheriff, John Griffith, had prepared green wood to burn him; but one master John Pikes, pitying the man, caused divers to go with him to Ridland, half a mile off, who brought good store of helme-sheaves, which indeed made good dispatch with little pain, in comparison to that he should have suffe
  3. obsolete, transitive, uncountable Synonym of bentgrass (“any of numerous reedy grass species of the genus Agrostis”) The Italians, and Spaniards, call it Sparto, and the ſecond ſort Albardi, The Dutch Halm. And vve in Engliſh, Helme, and Matvveede, but the people all along the Coaſts of Norfolke and Suffolke, call it Marram, and may be called Sea Ruſhes as vvell.

    Similar: bentgrass

verb helms · helming · helmed

  1. transitive To lay out (stalks of corn, or straw) straight to be used for thatching roofs; to yelm.

Helm⁵

Where it comes from

Perhaps so called from the 'helm' or cap of clouds that forms above Cross Fell (known as the Helm Bar) and can predict and accompany a Helm.

proper noun the Helm

  1. The wind that blows westward from the Pennine fells over Cumbria and is often accompanied by a line of clouds on top of the hills called the Helm Bar; it is the only named wind in the British Isles.

    Similar: Helm Wind

Helm⁶

Where it comes from

Two main origins:

* An English topographic surname for someone who lived by or worked at a temporary shelter for animals, from Middle English helm (“a helmet; a protection”).

* Borrowed from German Helm (“a helmet”), metonymic occupational surname for a maker of helmets.

proper noun Helms

  1. countable A surname.
  2. countable, uncountable An unincorporated community in Fresno County, California, United States.
  3. countable, uncountable An unincorporated community in Russell County, Kentucky, United States.
  4. countable, uncountable An unincorporated community in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States.

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: keel, pilothouse, aport, amidships, rudder, alee, conn, steering, helmsman, pilotage, wheel, driving, handrail, pole, threshold, crowbar

Translations

Every language

noun tiller (or, in a large ship, the wheel) which is used to control the rudder of a marine vessel; entire steering apparatus of a vessel

Españoltimón
한국어키 ki, 타 ta, 타륜 taryun
日本語舵輪 darin, 舵 kaji
中文舵 duò, 舵輪 /舵轮 duòlún
Portuguêstimão
Françaisbarre
DeutschRuder, Steuer, Steuerruder, Steuerung
Italianotimone
Ελληνικάπηδάλιο pidálio
Românăcârmă, timonă
Русскийкорми́ло kormílo, штурва́л šturvál
العربيةدَفَّة daffa
עבריתגַּלְגַל הֶגֶה galgal hege, הֶגֶה hegeh, יָדִית הֶגֶה yadit hege

noun use of a helm; amount of space through which a helm is turned

DeutschRuderausschlag

noun member of a vessel’s crew in charge of steering the vessel — see also helmsman, helmswoman

Españoltimonel
中文舵手 duòshǒu
Françaisbarreur, barreuse, timonier
DeutschSteuermann, Steuerfrau
Italianotimoniere
Русскийко́рмчий kórmčij, ко́рмчая kórmčaja, навига́тор navigátor, рулево́й rulevój, шту́рман štúrman

noun position of control or leadership

Italianoal comando, alla guida, al timone, condottiero, duce, timoniere
Русскийкорми́ло kormílo

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MLA

"helm." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/helm. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

helm. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/helm

Chicago

"helm." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/helm.

BibTeX
@misc{helm_2026,
  title = {helm},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/helm},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}